Device including steering cables for creating a cavity or a channel in bone

Abstract

A device for creating a cavity or a channel in bone. First and second steering cables are coupled to a flexible elbow or a tip of a shaft. A control assembly is operably coupled to the first and second steering cables and configured to tension one of the steering cables and slacken another one of the steering cables so as to flex the flexible elbow. The control assembly may include a steering block axially movable within a handle with a knob threadably coupled to the steering block. The steering block may be rotatably fixed within the handle. The first and second steering cables may be anchored to the steering block, such as to opposite sides of the steering block. The first steering cable may extend along a linear path, and the second steering cable may extend along a curved rib of the handle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for creating a cavity or a channel in bone, the device comprising:
 a handle; 
 a shaft coupled to the handle and comprising a proximal portion seated within the handle, a tip located forward of the handle, and a flexible elbow between the proximal portion and the tip; 
 a first steering cable coupled to the flexible elbow or the tip of the shaft; 
 a second steering cable coupled to the flexible elbow or the tip of the shaft; and 
 a control assembly comprising a knob that is rotatably coupled to the handle and operably coupled to the first steering cable and the second steering cable, wherein the knob is configured to be rotated to tension one of the first steering cable and the second steering cable and slacken the other one of the first steering cable and the second steering cable so as to flex the flexible elbow, wherein the control assembly comprises a steering block axially movable within the handle, wherein the knob is threadably coupled to the steering block, and wherein the first steering cable and the second steering cable are anchored to the steering block, and wherein the end of the first steering cable and the end of the second steering cable are coaxially arranged. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the steering block defines a distal closed end bore and a proximal closed end bore, wherein an end of the first steering cable is anchored to the steering block in the distal closed end bore and an end of the second steering cable is anchored to the steering block in the proximal closed end bore. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a curved rib, wherein the second steering cable extends along the curved rib. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the curved rib is C-shaped. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a base portion and a stem extending distally from the base portion, wherein the knob is rotatably coupled to the base portion and the shaft extends from the stem. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the stem comprises a neck comprising opposing surfaces spaced apart by a distance to accommodate adjacent fingers from a user, and a head extending radially outwardly from the neck. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a mounting block seated within the stem, wherein the proximal portion of the shaft is mounted to the mounting block. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the knob is rotatable in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the proximal portion of the shaft. 
     
     
       9. A device for creating a cavity or a channel in bone, the device comprising:
 a handle comprising opposing shells defining an interior of the handle, wherein at least one of the opposing shells is formed with a curved rib disposed within the interior of the handle; 
 a shaft coupled to the handle and comprising a proximal portion seated within the handle, a tip located forward of the handle, and a flexible elbow between the proximal portion and the tip; 
 a first steering cable coupled to the flexible elbow or the tip of the shaft; 
 a second steering cable coupled to the flexible elbow or the tip of the shaft; and 
 a control assembly operably coupled to the first steering cable and the second steering cable, 
 wherein the second steering cable extends along a surface of the curved rib to orient an end of the second steering cable to be coupled to the control assembly to provide for simultaneous tensioning and slackening of the first steering cable and the second steering cable. 
 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the curved rib is C-shaped. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the surface faces proximally and downwardly. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first steering cable extends along a linear path. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a control assembly comprising a steering block axially movable within the handle, wherein an end of the first steering cable and an end of the second steering cable are anchored to the steering block and coaxially arranged.